Mobility scooter ?s/Xmas cruise

[att]

Thinking about NCL Pearl, over Xmas, to Panama Canal. This would be 4th cruise but first since spouse needs help w/walking. Unable to do long distances but able to walk short spans and do steps if able to hold on. Now he will have a portable scooter (Smartscoot) that can fold down if needed. Is this a cruise we could get into ports w/scooter and explore? Really would like to do a Xmas cruise. Appreciate the input.

[BlueRiband]

First and foremost you need to check out NCL's scooter policy. What you describe sounds like a compact model that will easily fit through the door but there are other things to consider. Are the corridors tight for turning? Where in the cabin will you store it? Cruise lines have become very strict about them not being left in the hall or out near elevators. And you will also need one of your cabin outlets to recharge it.

 

Is your ship going into a tender port? Does your spouse have the agility to step into a tender and can this scooter be lifted on board?

 

You might find some good advice from others in this situation in the Disabled Cruisers Forum or in Ports of Call. You didn't specify the ports so it's difficult to guide you.

[att]

Thanks, I've posted on disabled cruisers board too. Anyone been on NCL Panama Canal, Pearl over Xmas? What did you think in general?

[Hlitner]

Just keep in mind that once you are outside the USA there is no ADA! Getting around many ports of the world will be difficult to impossible with a scooter, so you need to do your homework. Even the difficult ports might normally work fine if you take an excursion. On ships we now see a lot more scooters and would just hope that all scooter users respect other passengers the same way that we should all respect those with scooters. Both DW and I have all too often been nearly run over by wild scooter users (especially when they come flying into elevators with no regard for those trying to exit). On one HAL cruise we had one lady (with a very large scooter) who was totally reckless and came close to harming DW. After several run-ins I told her if she "did that again" I was going to take away her scooter keys. Never had another problem :)

 

Hank

[att]

Don't blame you Hank some people on a scooter or not are very rude. My husband would be very considerate of others as this is a new thing for him and we too have been in similar situations when he was in better shape. Thanks

[Hlitner]

Don't blame you Hank some people on a scooter or not are very rude. My husband would be very considerate of others as this is a new thing for him and we too have been in similar situations when he was in better shape. Thanks

 

One potential major problem for scooter users are tender ports. We have been in ports where they helped scooter folks onto tenders (along with their scooters) and we have been on other ships/ports where they would not permit a scooter onto a tender (especially if the seas were a bit rough). So you might want to take a look at the itinerary and see if this might be an issue.

 

Another issue can be where you park the scooter when in your cabin. Many ships will require you to take the scooter into your cabin since they do not want anything parked in the corridors (it is a safety violation). We know one scooter user who always books a larger cabin so they have extra space.

 

Hank

Edited January 11, 2015 by Hlitner